Clasp for bracelets and the like



Aug- 13 1940- s. LEVINE A2,211,018 I cLAsP EoR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Filed sept. y2, 193s V vllllllllll//l/l/l/l/l//z INVENToR SAMUEL EVM/' y/camd/m/ VQaZQRNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED s'rri'rss` anims i PATENT. orriacr.

2,211,018 CLASP FOR BRACELETS AND'THE LIKE s Samuel Levine, New York, N.,Y.

, Application September 2, 1938, Serial No. 228,075

4 claims. (c1. ,s4-241) This invention relates to improvements in connectors for bracelets, straps, and the like, and pertains more specifically to improvements in means for rendering said connectors safer and easier to use.

It is Well recognized that connectors and clasps of the type herein contemplated are rendered safer to use when a double lock is employed, i. e., when two superimposed members are arranged to serially close over the connecting loop which is fastened to the strapv or chain forming part of the bracelet. Thus, should the outer locking member become unlocked, the inner one will serve to maintain the loop connected to the clasp or connector, hence, obviating loss of the bracelet.

Whereas this double locking feature is desirable in connectors, it becomes complicated and confusing to use during the looking operation since the user must first move the inner locking member into place and then the outer locking member. Y

. With the above in mind, the present invention contemplates thev provision of a connector having double locking members which must be separately and serially opened to free the strap loop from the connector, but which Will provide a double lock upon manual manipulation of only one of said members. Thus, the two locking members must be separately actuated when opening the connector and both locking members are moved to locking position when closing the connector by manual actuation of only one of the members.

The structural arrangement, compactness, and neatness of thedevice also comprise featuresA of the invention.

The invention may be realized in its present preferred form in the illustrative embodiment thereof, which is sho-wn in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the following specication.

In the drawing:

Fig, l is a top plan view of a connector such as contemplated in this invention, said connector being shown in an open condition.

Fig. 2 is a side longitudinal sectional view thereof, the connector being shown in a closed and locked condition.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the connector in open condition, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is also a longitudinal sectional view, the connector being shown in a partially open condition and during the closing movement thereof.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the

connector comprises a-base box portion I9 formed with the' lateral 'walls Il vwhich 'areeach provided with a notch I2 in-which may be engaged the crossbar I3 of a strap loop I4 connected on the end of 'a' bracelet strapor the like I5. The other 5 end of said bracelet strap is preferably provided with a lo'op I 6 having pivotal engagement with the ends of a' rivet I1 mounted between the walls II of the box Ill.y

The device" is 'provided with an outer locking 10.

member I8 which isformedwith an ear I9, said ear being engaged around the ,rivet I1 for pivotal mounting of said outer locking member on said box.

InV its present disclosed form, the ear I9 is bi- `15 furcated and in the bifurcation there is disposed V a cam-shaped member 20 Whichis formed with a foot 2I having engagement with the locking member I8 toobviate relative rotation between said cam and said locking member`. Hence, these 20 two parts may be rotated about the rivet Il as a unit. f e

At the other 'end of the box I0, the Walls Il thereof serve to support another rivet 22 and upon this rivet, as by means of the ears 23, there is pivotally mounted an inner locking member 24. Saidv latter locking member is preferably formed with laterally disposed projections 25, each having frictional engagement with the inner surface of the walls II. vThe extensions 25 30 are so disposed in relation to the ears 23 as to dene the notches 26 which, together with the notches I2 formed in the walls II, serve to conne the crossbar I3 of the loop member I4.

The ears'23 are provided with extensions and 35 these extensions are apertured for the reception of laterally extendingtongues 21 of a. slide member 28 disposed within the bex I0 and engaged against the 'bottom thereof. In order to maintain the slide in the mentioned position,the por- 40 tion of each Walll I'I is inwardly bent to overstand said slide, as illustrated by the tongues 29, thus formed. The end of the slide opposite the projections 21 is preferably rounded or curled over as latl-3l)l and this'portion is adapted for cooperative engagement` with the cam 20 on the outer locking member.

The mentioned frictional engagement between the projections 25 and thel walls II serves to maintain the inner locking member 24 in locking relation, and the downreaching extension 3l of the outer locking member I8 having frictional engagement with the mentioned extension of the ears 23, serves to hold the outer locking member in locked relation. This condition is best seen in Fig. 2.

Assuming the position shown in Fig. 2, in order to open the connector the outer locking member I9 is lifted as by means of the nger nail projection 32. When this is done, the inner locking member 24 will remain in locked condition. Upon lifting of the free end of this member to open the slots I2, the loop I4 is freed for removal from the connector. This condition is shown in Fig. 3. Thus, it is obvious that the connecting relation between the loop I4 and the connector is doubly safeguarded since the connector may be opened only by the separate and sequential manipulation of the two respective locking members.

From the position show in Fig. 3, when it is desired to lock the connector over the loop I4, said loop is iirst engaged by means of its bar I3 within the notches I2 and the outer locking member is moved around the rivet I'I in the direction` of the arrow. During this movement, the cam 20 will move the slide 28 which, through its connection with the inner locking member, causes opposite rotation in the direction of the arrow, of the inner locking member. This condition is best seen in Fig, 4. Now, when the high point of the cam 2Ilhas moved the slide 28 to its furthermost position toward the left, the free end of the inner locking member will engage the undersurface of the outer locking member, and continued rotation of said outer locking member will cause the two locking members toassume the locked position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted from this gure that the slide has now become .completely disassociated from the cam, since the latter part of the movement of the inner locking member has drawn the slide still further toward the left. It is apparent from the above that the simple manual manipulation of one of the locking members has accomplished the positive locking positioning of both of said locking members.

While the foregoing is descriptive` of a preferred form of connector, many changesin the structure may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

For instance, the connection between the slide 28 and the ears 23 may be replaced by -a modied form of gearing, or di'erently designed members to replace the cam 20 and the rolled portion 39. may be used. While at present itis `preferred that during the opening ofthe connector the movement of the outer locking member shall not aiect the inner member, it may be desired, under certain conditions, to have the raising of the outer member also cause the raising of the inner member. While this form is not illustrated, it is quite obvious of attainment.

From the foregoing it is aparent that the scope of the invention should not be confined to this specific disclosure andthe scope of the claims should be interpreted only in the Vlight of the prior pertinent art.

V, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bracelet connector comprising a base box having an open top, an outer locking member pivoted to one end of said box, a cam on said member, an inner locking member pivoted to the other end of said box, a slide in said box connected with the inner locking member, said slide having operative engagement with said cam whereby upon movement of the outer locking member to locking position over said open box top said cam will move the slide to cause movement of the inner locking member to its locking position underneath the outer locking member.

2. A bracelet connector comprising a base box having an open top, an outer locking member 4pivoted to one end of said box and swingable to close the box when in locking position, a cam on said member, an inner locking member pivoted to the other end of said box, a slide in said box connected with the inner locking member, said slide having operative engagement with said cam whereby upon movement of the outer locking member to locking position said cam will move the slide to cause movement of the inner locking member toits locking position beneath the outer locking member and between the Walls of the box, said outer locking member in locked position having frictional engagement with said inner locking member, and said inner locking member having frictional engagement with said base box.

3. In combination with the end fitting of a bracelet, a connector comprising a base box having notches for receiving a portion of said tting, and means for locking said iitting against displacement from said notches, said means comprising an inner locking member pivoted to one end of said boxto overlie the notches when in locked position, an outer locking member pivoted to the other end of said box, swingable to overlie the inner member for locking position, a cam carried by said outer locking member and a slide member connected to the inner locking member and having separable operative engagement with the can on `the outer locking member so that movement of the outer locking member toward locking position will cause movement of the inner locking member toward locking position.

4. In combination with the end tting of a bracelet, a connector comprising a base box having notches for receiving a portion of said fitting, and means for locking said fitting against displacement from said notches, said means comprising an inner locking member pivoted to one end of said box to overlie the notches when in locked position, an outer locking member pivoted to the other end of said box, swingable to overlie theinner member for locking position, a cam carried by said outer locking member and amslide member connected to the inner locking member and having separable operative engagement with the cam on the outer locking member so that movement oi the outer locking member toward locking position will cause movement of the inner locking member toward locking position, said outer member having frictional engagement with a portion of said inner locking member, and said inner locking member having frictional engagement with a portion of said base box.

SAMUEL LEVINE. 

